Kate Padilla

There are so many things I wish we’d never gone through in, and after, 2020. But there is one thing, in particular, I hope sticks around: the resurgence of homemaking.

To be fair, many of us didn’t really have a choice when it came to homemaking. We were in our homes a lot more than before — we worked from home, we schooled from home, we exercised and entertained and relaxed, all from home.

And behind the sourdough starters and the gardens and the Tiger King marathons, many of us realized our home wasn’t all we wanted it to be.

I’ve been a realtor for three years and a real estate investor for eight. I’ve been in hundreds of homes, and I can tell you that homes have a character (all homes, not just the old ones). The bad news is sometimes our character and our home’s character don’t always vibe. The good news is we can change the character of our home.

More good news: anyone can be a homemaker.

It’s not necessarily just keeping a clean house and cooking dinner each night, though these things are components. (That said, you don’t necessarily even need to be a good cook or a faithful cleaner to be a homemaker).

Homemaking is not a singular skill to be mastered. Rather, it is a million small skills to be endeavored. It is a constant pursuit of success and failure, a race of individual steps toward an ultimate goal.

Fantastic. Now what?

One of Stephen Covey’s habits in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is: Begin with the end in mind. In truth, it’s the habit that comes to my mind the most.

Before I had children, I used to think of the kind of parent I would be and the kind of home I would create for them. Most important to me was that I create a culture for our family. I think the same applies to our homes.

Homemaking is not a singular skill to be mastered. Rather, it is a million small skills to be endeavored. It is a constant pursuit of success and failure, a race of individual steps toward an ultimate goal.

When we begin with the end in mind as homemakers, we start with a clear vision of our home in its most ideal state. What do we want to wake up to each morning? How do we want guests to feel when they come over to visit?

Will our homes always accomplish this? Absolutely not.

Is it noble to pursue this vision anyway? Yes, I believe it is.

I believe it is important to set goals for our home, as we set goals for our careers, our finances, and our health. Three years ago my husband and I wanted to start a garden. This year we’ll grow or locally source more than 50% of the food we eat.

When we begin with the end in mind as homemakers, we start with a clear vision of our home in its most ideal state. What do we want to wake up to each morning? How do we want guests to feel when they come over to visit?

These goals may seem arbitrary, but they add up and contribute to the overall vision. They give us purpose outside our job, and allow us to truly build a life (rather than just build a living).

Have you set goals for your home? Here are a few of mine:

• To establish a sourdough culture (again) and become better at making my own sourdough baked goods from scratch.
• To expand my knowledge and practice of food preservation, so I can create beautiful meals for my family, from my own home, using my own food.
• To form spaces in my home where my family can relax, enjoy life, and cultivate peace.

Are you ready to find the house you can turn into your home? Contact me so we can get connected. Also, do you have any tips on growing a sourdough starter? I’d love to hear those, too.

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